Ukraine Downs 14 Shahed Drones, 530 Russian Troops Killed, US Rubbishes Russia’s Bakhmut Claim

Ukraine said its air defence units downed 14 Iranian-made Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 drones overnight on April 4. The Ukrainian Armed Forces said the drones were likely launched from the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov. Russian drones struck Ukraine's strategic port of Odesa, local Ukrainian authorities said. Ukraine said that its forces have killed over 530 Russian troops over the past day. UK’s Defence Ministry said that Russia is likely to 'eventually' replace Wagner Group with other private military groups. A Washington Post report, citing satellite images, claims that Russia is bolstering its defences in Crimea. The US said that the battle for Bakhmut is not over and Ukraine is still fighting hard for the town. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed the EU’s deteriorating relations with Russia on the former's support for Kyiv. Finland will officially become a member of the NATO military alliance on Tuesday, the Finnish president’s office said. Russian envoy to UN Vasily Nebenzya said Moscow is not threatening anyone with nuclear weapons. Watch this video to know what's latest in the Ukraine-Russia war.